Flashlight-holic Anonymous?

It started over 3 weeks ago just around Christmas 2014 time but I don’t remember what really triggered it.
A light turned on in my mind and before I knew it I started buying a lot of flashlights.

I bought a lot of those ones with the word “-fire” in their names, most with zoom-able function.
Initially, I don’t care too much about the brightness or lumen output because they are all far brighter than my ancient 2 D-cell Brinkmann flashlight.

It is the shapes and colors that attracts me and I really like those with prominent fins (heat sink).
At the moment I collect more for their shape and variety but I am quickly turning my attention to the lumen output and the throw vs flood characteristic of the flashlight.

I like those with multiple emitters, 3 to 15 because they produce a lot of light and they turn my backyard into a daytime scene.
However I also started buying the ones with single emitter but have a good reflector for a long throw.

I have a lot of questions in my mind.
I tried to read several posts in the forums but there are a lot of terminology that I don’t understand.
Thanks to Mr.Google I can understand a few of them but there are many more that look like Greek to me.

I read a lot of mods but where do I start and how do I know what to do, what to buy and how it is done?
If any of you guys live in San Francisco Bay Area, I would like to pay a visit to see your flashlight collection.
If you are a modder, that would be even great.

Have a good day!

Have a nice time here, xlotus!

(Just what we need... another Californian. ;))

Welcome to BLF xlotus, fix yourself a drink, get comfortable, and keep your credit card handy.

Awww! Too bad you are a little bit too far down there for me to pay a visit.
Otherwise I would be more than happy to see your collection and learn the trade from you.

Btw, there are a number of raccoons frequenting my front and backyard. Using the lithium-ion powered flashlights, I often checked the backyard at night for any signs of raccoons foraging in my backyard. I have seen them drinking and washing their feet on my backyard swimming pool.

Perhaps I already dropped about $1K so far in less than a month. :open_mouth:

Yeah, I just found another addictive and quite expensive hobby.

I hope by joining this forum, I’ll do more reading and less buying. Crossing my fingers. :slight_smile:

Welcome to BLF, xlotus! Feel free to ask for explanations of terminology that you do not understand, we don’t bite around here! To get started modding, you might want to check out this thread for ideas on what supplies you will need. Do you already have a flashlight you would like to mod, or would you be interested in doing a simple build?

Bay Area represent! I would recommend paying Illumination Supply a visit in SJ if you want to see a crazy flashlight collection!

Many of us are anonymous even within our own households.

On the other extreme, at least in the good old days CPF held regional get-togethers and some camping and caving trips. Worth checking there also.

Welcome to BLF!

Quick better have a peak at this thread (note it doesnt always work, especially when toykeeper has a light she’s thinking of selling and you post in that very thread how you managed to hold off on buying one of them, then she PM’s you and FORCES you to buy it from her…)

Lol! I am glad I am not alone.
How many flashlights do you guys have?
I have received 38 flashlights with about 29 more in the pipeline and I’m buying at a rate of 2-6 every day.
Fortunately many of the first 38 are in the $14 or less variety.
My most expensive light is the Acebeam/Supbeam K40M for $110 which is in the pipeline pending delivery.

Beside the flashlights, I also bought hundreds $$$ worth of batteries and chargers. :open_mouth:
Charging the batteries on those chargers with fancy display is also addicting. LOL
I love the Nitecore and Xtar chargers. They are the best!

Welcome! We’ve been waiting for you!

howdy to another Bay Area just good people (I assume) :).

Well, it does seem like you jumped in with both feet. BTW batteries and chargers don’t count as you can always use them for other lights and stuff.

I have the same ace beam k40m on my short list (So I get why you like it) but after buying 3 Nitecore lights recently, I need to slow down and reevaluate my “needs”.

To thin the heard (to make more room) there is always:

Re Gifting a good portion on your own TBD basis (its sort of like buying drinks for friends)
Recognizing different niches (EDC, Throw, Flood, etc, etc, TBD)
And setting a portion aside to (mod) aka take apart and learn how they work and how you can “make them better”, and if/(when) one of them needs to be dedicated to parts for future builds, then that was all part of the plan.

Once that is done maybe your collection wont look so big?

Welcome to the forum. Many of us feel your pain. Your OP sure hits close to home for me. I tend to purchase in splurges and then not buy for while. At least, I tend to buy less each time.

There are lots of challenging aspects to modding. Electrical, thermal, optical, programming, etc. So you collection will be able to keep you quite busy as you get deeper into modding. Of course, controlling your parts purchases is a whole other challenge.

Spending several thousand dollars is very easy. Best just roll with it and learn as much as possible. Your dollar to hours passed ratio will be better than many of the other hobbies out there.

Hahahaha! You made my day! :beer:
It is truly an expensive hobby, i discovered it recently too.
I started to consider flashlights for men like shoes and clothes for women…

Hi There!

I guess my signature sums it all…